Gov. LePage to lay out business zone proposal

BRUNSWICK — Maine Gov. Paul LePage will lay out the details of his proposal to create “Open for Business Zones,” which he says will spur economic investment and make the state more competitive.

The Republican governor will discuss the bill on Monday at the Maine Technology Institute in Brunswick.

LePage announced the idea during his State of the State address last month. He said the proposal would offer discounted electricity rates and tax benefits to companies that invest at least $50 million and create 1,500 jobs. Employees also would not be forced to join unions or pay labor dues.

Labor union officials and Democrats have already attacked the proposal. They say it’s unlikely to gain traction, pointing to the governor’s failure to pass right-to-work legislation with a GOP-controlled Legislature in 2011.

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